Get away from the royal spotlight!
Being constantly in the spotlight as a royal and having the European tabloid press bombard you every day with all kinds of unfounded rumors: the life of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco is certainly not always a bed of roses. Fortunately, they can escape all the fuss in Monaco in their French residence in the mountains.
Roc Agel
We sometimes describe Monaco as the microstate of the mega-rich. And well: when you see the jetsetters and prominent figures within just 2 km2 it is sometimes difficult to really find peace there. Especially when you are Your Serene Highness and have cameras on your face wherever you go.
Fortunately, the Grimaldis have had a secret shelter for decades, about 10 kilometers from the court. And given the tiny size of Monaco, that is already abroad: neighboring France. Here, at Roc Agel, the princely Monegasques could catch their breath.
Refuge
In the mountainous area just north of Monaco, the Grimaldi family has had a quiet retreat for decades. The country house was bought in 1957 by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, who retreated there every summer to just walk around in jeans and let the children play outside. “It’s the place where we can close the door to the rest of the world,” is how Grace Kelly described Roc Agel. “My parents were looking for a place in the countryside where they could retreat for a while when their obligations allowed it,” Prince Albert told Point de Vue about the country house. “A place where their children could grow up more peacefully. Where they could be freer.”
Yet the Serene Residence also has a grim side. Princess Grace was on her way back to Monaco from Roc Agel when she lost control of her car due to a mild stroke. This accident would ultimately prove fatal, after a second brain hemorrhage while she was in the hospital.
Secret
Thanks to its remote location, the property can be well secured and the Grimaldis are completely shielded from the outside world. The only neighbors are the sheep, cows and horses that graze in the surrounding mountain meadows. Nowadays, Prince Albert would like to grow organic vegetables there, while Princess Charlene can swim to her heart’s content and indulge in the kitchen. You can’t get much more idyllic!
For Princess Charlene, whose health has been ailing in recent years, the estate was also a particularly pleasant retreat during her recovery. Near the kids, but without paparazzi or chatty neighbors. Although various media have shared various photos of this secret retreat over the years, it has never been officially confirmed which of the luxurious mountain retreats belongs to the Grimaldi’s. So you see: Roc Agel is all about privacy!
Source: Paris Match BE, Journal des Femmes, Vogue Italia | Image: NL Image
